The things you find at Goodwill

 

My husband and I have weird dates.   Most every Sunday we head off to the second hand shops and on the way home, stop off at the local Kroger to do our shopping.  Besides my table cloths, the majority of display items I have on my author table has come from the shops!  (not only Goodwill, but also Volunteers of America).

This past weekend I was off looking at blankets and such while my husband found me the most amazing thing!  A 6' DOUBLE retractable banner!  for 5 DOLLARS!

The two banners are still inside, but we've discovered you can quite easily install newly printed banners.  So I have been playing around with designs and we will eventually have one printed.  The hubby is sure he'll be able to install it! 

Durand Union Station Author Extravaganza

Friday afternoon I spent at the Durand Union Station Author Extravaganza and it was such fun!   Again I had the brightest table coverings and I don't mind that at all.  The setup really does reflect my personality.  A bit loud!

I ran into a few authors I have seen before and one I really need to reach out to again soon to get onto her podcast!  The last time it was such fun.  I mean really, a librarian enjoying chatting about books - who would have thunk it?

From what I can gather, they do something similar in the fall so I will keep an eye out for it and would love to attend again.  It is such a historical location and the community really cares about reading!  Besides, the library showed up and any event that brings out the library has to be good!

Northville District Library’s Local Author Fair

 

YAY!  Back in January I applied to be part of the Northville District Library's Local Author Fair and I found out today I was accepted!  

I am so very thankful to be part of this event and am really looking forward to it.  

Saturday, May 18 from 2 – 4 PM (Northville Community Center)

There will be many Michigan authors who publish a variety of materials.  Come on over and see us!  You may find some new favorite books!

I Challeneged AI to Write a Biography

 

I challenged AI to write a short biography about me, since I need one for articles and applications and such. This is what I said:

Write a biography in under 200 words about Cassie Veselovsky who is a children's author and youth librarian. She is passionate about early literacy and incorporates early literacy practices into her books which you can sing to familiar tunes

and this is what it came up with:

Cassie Veselovsky, a dynamic figure in the realm of children's literature, intertwines her roles as a children's author and youth librarian with finesse. With a fervent dedication to early literacy, she not only writes captivating stories but also infuses them with innovative educational elements. Cassie's unique approach involves crafting tales that can be sung to familiar tunes, fostering a deeper connection with young readers and enhancing their linguistic skills in the process.

Her journey began with a profound love for literature and a desire to ignite that same passion in others, leading her to pursue a career in librarianship. As a youth librarian, she leverages her expertise to curate engaging reading experiences for children of all ages, nurturing their curiosity and imagination.

In her capacity as an author, Cassie channels her boundless creativity into creating enchanting narratives that captivate the hearts and minds of young readers worldwide. Through her work, she continues to inspire a love for reading while instilling essential early literacy skills, leaving an indelible mark on the literary landscape.

Well, what do you think? I believe a couple of tweaks are needed, but all in all, AI did a scary good job.

Let's Celebrate the Springtime video up on YouTube

 Hello all and Happy Spring!   Ok, it's been spring for a minute now but I'm just getting a video up on YouTube with me reading my book.  It's like a mini storytime.  When I post videos here from YouTube, they put them in this odd square frame.  If it's bad below, just follow this link:   Let's Celebrate the Springtime storytime

Five Rascally Raccoons read by me on YouTube

 

I uploaded a little storytime of me reading Five Rascally Raccoons.  Enjoy!

Banging my Head Against the Wall

 

I took the week off - it is spring break so I figured I could relax and spend some time with my kids and maybe get some work done regarding my books.   Not writing new books, but work on the marketing aspect.   I can't do it.  I've tried.  I've been banging my head against a wall so much it is numb and void of any ideas.

I worked on the A+ Content that Amazon offers, and maybe it will help, but how?   See!  I'm starting to question myself.  I just feel like I have tried so many different things, that I am not sure what the next step should be.

While I was scanning the net for ideas, I ran across Schuler Books self-publishing information.  I gave it a once over since I'd love to publish with someone who can get my books into catalogs that booksellers and libraries use for purchasing.  But quite frankly, it is a bit more costly than I can afford.   With that said, I did find another option offered by Schuler, their Consignment Program.  This could be something.

I read through the information and it sounds like a fairly straight forward deal.  I don't have a great number of any one of my books at the moment, so I am going to have to order some and then approach the bookstore.   If they aren't interested, there are others around here.  Maybe that's my next step - approaching bookstores.  The thought makes my stomach flip!